First official day of Stage 2
19. heinäkuuta, Itävalta ⋅ ⛅ 25 °C
The newbies have a bike fitting, then we all go on a short ride around Vienna l, ending with a cuppa and cake made by pensioners.
I chill out in my room for the rest of the afternoon before most ofLue lisää
Rest day in Vienna
18. heinäkuuta, Itävalta ⋅ ☀️ 29 °C
Today is a rest day. Very muchly needed. Recovering from the heat more than the riding I think. We all feel it.
After a lay-in, a few of us go to a very flash laundromat to do some laundry. It's veryLue lisää
Vienna
17. heinäkuuta, Itävalta ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C
We made it to Vienna. Today is the last day of riding of the first stage.
It's up to 33 degrees or more and building up to a thunderstorm so gets very humid also.
We only just made it to the hotelLue lisää
Melk to Reidling
16. heinäkuuta, Itävalta ⋅ ⛅ 23 °C
Continuing along the Danube. 68 km today
We are in Apricot country. Apricots done in every way possible.
We also ride through vineyards.
Again hot and humid but I drink lots more water today, withLue lisää
Amstetten to Melk via the Danube
15. heinäkuuta, Itävalta ⋅ ☁️ 24 °C
Today we get to the Danube River then follow it along to Melk. Melk is a very small but pretty town, with an Abbey that still has 22 monks living in it. It also houses a Grammar school.
Hot and humidLue lisää
Over the border
14. heinäkuuta, Itävalta ⋅ ☁️ 27 °C
44 KMs from Cesky Krumlov to Lipno. Hot again.
From Lipno we get minibussed over the border of Austria and stay at Amstetten.
Prague to Cesky Krumlov
13. heinäkuuta, Tšekin tasavalta ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C
Train from Prague to Cesky Krumlov via Ceske Budejovice, the home of Budweiser beer.
Lovely ride, hot. Beautiful town, walking tour, swim, pork knuckle.
More words later
First day with the cycling tour.
12. heinäkuuta, Tšekin tasavalta ⋅ ☁️ 27 °C
Today we get fitted to our bikes and go on an 18 km orientation ride around Prague. I opted for an ebike, half the group of 15 are probably on ebikes.
Then we have free time. Ursi and I find a lovelyLue lisää
Miss Sophie's
12. heinäkuuta, Tšekin tasavalta ⋅ ☀️ 17 °C
A boutique hotel, a bit more up market than the other one but all part of the bicycle tour package.
A history lesson
11. heinäkuuta, Tšekin tasavalta ⋅ ☁️ 26 °C
Prague is one of Europe's oldest and most beautiful capitals, with a history stretching back more than 1,100 years. It developed around the 9th century when the first castle was built on a hillLue lisää
Change of hotel
11. heinäkuuta, Tšekin tasavalta ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C
Today I move to a new hotel, Miss Sophie's Downtown, opposite the grand train station. Today I meet up with the Intrepid cycling group.
I have a room-mate, Ursi from Switzerland.
I go for anotherLue lisää
More Karlovy Vary
10. heinäkuuta, Tšekin tasavalta ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C
Becherovka is born
10. heinäkuuta, Tšekin tasavalta ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C
Becherovka of Karlovy Vary is currently the bestselling liqueur in the segment of bitter herbal liqueurs, and thus it is no surprise that it is often called the 13th spring of Karlovy Vary.Lue lisää
Karlovy Vary day trip
10. heinäkuuta, Tšekin tasavalta ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C
Another guided tour today. Only 13 people this time. There were Spaniards mostly, 2 Italians, 1 Israeli, 1 from Cyprus and me.
Minibus ride today, 2 hours west of Prague.
The countryside crops wereLue lisää
Traditional dinner and dance
9. heinäkuuta, Tšekin tasavalta ⋅ 🌙 16 °C
Another "Get your Guide" activity today was a traditional dinner and dance.
A bit disappointing. The food was average and music a bit uninspiring but the drinks flowed!
The dancing was good. TheLue lisää
St Barbara's Cathedral
9. heinäkuuta, Tšekin tasavalta ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C
St. Barbara’s Church is a massive, spectacular Gothic cathedral funded entirely by mining wealth and dedicated to the patron saint of miners.
Status Symbol: Miners started building it in 1388 toLue lisää
The Bone Church
9. heinäkuuta, Tšekin tasavalta ⋅ ☀️ 19 °C
This church is amazing. Spectacularly bizarre but fascinating. It has 2 stories, the bottom story is where the bones are, the top story is the church bit.
The Sedlec Ossuary (Bone Church) is a GothicLue lisää
More Kutna Hora
9. heinäkuuta, Tšekin tasavalta ⋅ ☀️ 17 °C
Train, bus trip to Kutna Hora
9. heinäkuuta, Tšekin tasavalta ⋅ ☀️ 17 °C
33 people met our guide Pavel at the Prague railway station and took 2 trains and a bus to Kutna Hora, east of Prague. There were Danes, a Lithuanian, US, Hong Kong, poms, Aussies ( me and a coupleLue lisää
Wenceslas Square Hotel
9. heinäkuuta, Tšekin tasavalta ⋅ ☀️ 16 °C
My accommodation. Once again I find a quirky one. I'm up on the 5th floor.
My room is 2 stories with the bedroom in the loft bit.
Great spot. In the new town area. Close to train
Exploring on the HOHO bus
8. heinäkuuta, Tšekin tasavalta ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C
Too early to check in so, I have to go exploring. Good thing I got a decent sleep on the plane 😊
From foggy Melbourne to cloudy Prague
7.–8. heinäk., Tšekin tasavalta ⋅ ☁️ 25 °C
Words later
To Melbourne overnight
6. heinäkuuta, Australia ⋅ ☀️ 14 °C
Fly to Melbourne with Sharp Airlines in the afternoon then check into Hyatt Essendon Fields before tramming it into Melbourne Central.
I meet Ben in the Food Court for tea and then tram it back to theLue lisää












































































































































































































































































































































































































































































MatkaajaAnd Spain won!
Matkaaja
What era are these from?
Matkaaja
Early 19th century, uncovered early 1990's